11 Signs Of Social Anxiety That You May Want To Keep An Eye On

For many years, people who were uncomfortable in social situations or avoided them all together were largely misunderstood. Often this group of people were referred to as "shy" or "loner" by others who didn't understand the signs of social anxiety. Thankfully, within the past few decades, this condition has received the attention it deserves, giving the people who struggle with this disorder more ways to find community and support. The website for the Social Anxiety Association defines social anxiety as the fear of social situations that involve interaction with other people. These fears are typically accompanied by physical and emotional symptoms as well.

1You Avoid Being The Center Of Attention

If you go out of your way to make sure you're not the start of the show, you know how uncomfortable you feel when all eyes are on you. Making efforts to avoid being the center of attention is a sign of social anxiety, according to Mayo Clinic.

2You Are Easily Embarrassed

Feeling embarrassed by every day things can cause a strong stress response for those with social anxiety. As the website for the Social Anxiety Association explained, the condition is triggered when are easily embarrassed, causing blushing and shaking in the moment.

4You Avoid Introductions

Meeting new people can be fun and exciting for some, but for those with social anxiety, the situation is met with dread. Being introduced to new people causes those with social anxiety emotional distress, according to the Social Anxiety Institute's website.

8You Use Alcohol To Cope With Social Situations

Someone with social anxiety may use what's called "partial avoidance" in situations where they must be present. One form of partial avoidance is using alcohol to cope with the anxious feelings they are experiencing, as Psychology Today pointed out.

9You Analyze Interactions

There are plenty of times I wish I could go back in time and handle a situation differently, but an ongoing fear of thinking you said or did the wrong thing is entirely different. As Mayo Clinic pointed out, people with social anxiety spend time after a social situation analyzing their performance and finding flaws in interactions.

10You Have A Fear Of Public Speaking

Most people will tell you that making a presentation or giving a speech is not at the top of their list for favorite things to do. But having a prolonged physical response to public speaking is a sign of social anxiety, as the Social Anxiety Association explained.